Green Spaces at School

It often occurs me just how weird it is that western culture makes such a deliberate, harsh division between what is Natural and what is Human. Of course, we have a bunch of dead white guys to thank for this (Descartes, Hobbes and Aquinas to name a few). [Hu]man's supremacy over the natural world went more or less uncontested by the western hegemony for a significant amount of time. Placing the natural (the garden) into an intellectual space is therefore a revolutionary counter-cultural practice. Beyond all of the physiological benefits we know green spaces provide, gardens in schools represent a paradigm shift in the way we think about our world. I personally believe that this is a critical movement towards environmental responsibility that we must continue.

One of the things that struck me about the reading was the number of times students listed "slowing down" as a benefit to the gardening space. The students we will teach have all grown up in a world where time is commodified and micro-managed, and an abundance of information is available almost instantly. This pressing pace must be grueling for the developing brain. By creating a physical space that fosters patience and awareness, we give kids a chance to process things at their own pace. As always, this ideal butts up against the desire to use tech creatively in learning. I'm curious to know if any school gardens have incorporated digital technology into their pedagogy.

Another thing I really like about this reading was the way the author framed the importance of student agency in learning. Specifically, the idea of student expertise being a tool to foster learning and growth in areas where the students may be struggling. The example in the text was of the students teaching their community buddies about the washing and eating practices from their cultures. By using topics that they know intimately, students learning English get a boost of confidence. They get to be the experts, and the act of practicing their English becomes more meaningful and more comfortable.